Issue Six- December 2019:

By Mercedes Barreto

Projecto 7 is a salsa band, based in Elgin, Illinois, Chicago, which strives to make salsa music mainstream and to entertain. If you attend their performances across the Chicago land area, you’ll be dancing by the end of the first half-hour, fully involved and in sync with the rhythm.

What began the idea for Projecto 7?

It was an idea that developed due to the breakup of other bands in the area.

I was playing with Willie Gomez, with the  ‘Cache Orquestra’, whilst other members where part of a Merengue band, called ‘Banda Rica’, and the others where members of, ‘La Orquestra Tropical’. A singer from one of the ‘Chicago Salsa bands’ had just come back from Puerto Rico, and he was try to find musicians out here, in Elgin, since he had just come from doing solos and singing gigs.

He was interested, however, in developing a smaller group than the size of an orchestra, to find gigs for such smaller groups, and make more money as a compact group (a project concept). Instead of 10 to 12 musicians, he just wanted to have a strong sound with just 7 musicians, and as a result, Projecto 7 came about!

We have to use the Spanglish version, however, since there was a Latin jazz group already using the Spanish version group name of Proyecto 7. Nevertheless, it is difficult to keep everyone happy. We are now back to 8-9 or so musicians, since, at times, we need to keep our talented musicians on board in order to receive the deserving exposure for the Salsa and Latin Jazz industry, in the residing Chicago land area.

Why did you choose salsa and jazz, above all other genres of music, especially in your location, where it is not as common to see/hear?

Actually, it was not a choice. It is a matter of keeping the original Genre at live.

“Salsa” is here to stay”, is an original statement made by famous singer, Tito Nieves. The original idea was already in place by the history of this genre in the area, the ‘Orquestra de los Hermanos Rodriguez’ was the first Salsa band out here at Elgin, then there were a few bands, like ‘Orquestra Borinquen’, which became the first females’ singers’ band in Elgin, and then there was also the ‘Aurora IL. Orquestra Chevere’, and together with these groups, the music and genre was being actively exposed by DJ’s in the area due to the social & economic changes in the Latino community in Elgin, and community agencies, as well as by social groups that relied on musicians in Chicago. As a result, we did not choose it, it chose us.

This is because of the market request for this type of dancing genre in the area. Elgin was also changing, and there were more in the Latino population at first. Originally, the growth was mainstream Puerto Rican, however, now, there are more Mexicans that are married to Puerto Ricans.

The demand for Salsa and Latin Jazz comes from this new generation of Mixed Latinos, and from the newer Puerto Ricans that are relocating to the West Chicago suburbs, such as the examples of Aurora, Geneva, St. Charles, West Chicago town, and of course Elgin.

Being in your specific community of residence, what kinds of reactions do you get from people who don’t even know Spanish? Do they get up and dance?

We promote the band by advertising the idea that this IS dancing music, and that you don’t truly have to know the words of the songs to feel the Rhythm of Salsa and Latin Jazz. The music itself is very hot and calls the attention of none-english speakers to listen to or to learn how to do Salsa dance.

Last gig, it was a hot summer festival, and the majority of the people on Glen Ellen, Illinois, are Anglos (Caucasians), however, they feel the music, and they are ready to learn to dance, since they are interested in the social gather of beautiful people and good vides. With Salsa and Latin Jazz festivities all over the neighborhoods, our next coming gig will be at West Chicago Railroad Days Festival.

Last years performance was ‘A Salsa in the Park’, and there were more Anglos dancing (Gringos) that Latinos dancing and listening Salsa music. It is all about the Rhythm of Salsa, and the interpretation of diverse music all over the West Chicago Land area.

If you could change the stereotype and get more people involved in the salsa and jazz performance and experience, and to truly enjoy it, what would you say to convince those people to do so?

First, you will need to promote the rhythm as a danceable rhythm for the dominant group. We usually start with the most famous of all original Salsa rhythms, the “Mambo”.

Although, this is an older request, we are now getting more requests to do “Bachata’s” since it is a much easier dancing rhythm than Salsa dancing. However, by introducing one easier danceable rhythm, and since they are already dancing already, we introduce salsa classes right before the band plays live salsa music, for the audience to follow the rhythm much better.

Nevertheless, it appears that if you know a bit about the history of our genre, then, we are able to teach the DJ’s to play the music, and with the support of famous singers, like, Marc Anthony, we are able to represent our music to a larger audience in our area.”

What is the main goal or objective for Proyecto 7 in a given time, such as in two years’ time, and further onwards?

We are currently working on putting together our own original materials, and as a result, we are developing our fan base to promote the original materials and possibilities of going on tour with our original materials. Our goals are to get more gigs outside of the Illionois area, and keep moving the band at different places. Who knows, maybe Argentinian Salsa band Projecto 7, instead of Tango, or Salsa stepping with Tango style?

I’m just talking out of my element.. We hope to establish a great marketing strategy to promote the Salsa of Projecto 7 to the world of Salsa! Just as Cubans have done with their Cuban Salsa styles, we have Projecto 7 rhythms styles coming your way. We do have a string song on ReverbNation, and one of our promoted songs on FaceBook right now is called, “El Visio De Tu Amor”, interpreted by Ricky Rodriguez, our main singer in Projecto7. Our goals to be able to play this song in any FaceBook version type radio, and also to start main streaming on radios in the Chicago land area.”

What is the main message to those who need to start enjoying the salsa music experience, and your performances, who have not before?

This is a good question.

We are a local Salsa band that is doing great Salsa and Latin Jazz music for all dancer and listeners of this type of genre. We truly believe that once you hear our interpretation of old school Salsa, or Salsa Romantic, you will be impressed, and will want to share our FaceBook page, and of course, to hire the band for your next corporate or festival activities and events.

Just hear what our fan base has to say about our music!

“Great sound, just a wonderful and fun group to dance to and listen to their interpretation of Salsa music in the Chicago Land area.” Other statements are, “One of the best Salsa band in the Chicago Land area! Check out the band live at the local Chicago’s own Cubby Bears Night Club, PL Lounge, AG Lounge, The Entre Tropical room! Also get our music on www.reverbnation.com/projecto7 and download our latest original materials. We hope to see you at one of our many performances in the Chicago land area.